FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has amended a recent disaster declaration for severe winter storms in February in order to make Ballard and Wayne counties eligible for its Public Assistance program.

Local governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations in Ballard and Wayne may apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. FEMA’s Public Assistance is a cost-share reimbursement program.

With this disaster’s amendment there are now a total of 29 Kentucky counties eligible for Public Assistance. The counties previously designated are: Boyd, Boyle, Caldwell, Clark, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Jessamine, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Lyon, Marshall, Menifee, Metcalfe, Morgan, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Simpson, Taylor, Washington and Wolfe. Ballard is also now eligible for snow assistance under the Public Assistance program for any continuous 48-hour period associated with the Feb. 15 to Feb. 22 storms.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.